About BetterJet
We're a Wānaka-based company bridging the gap between economy and full charter.
In New Zealand, domestic flying means one thing: economy. On most routes, there's no business class, no quiet cabin, no meaningful upgrade. Your only alternative is a full private charter: exceptional, but priced for a commitment most travellers aren't ready to make.
BetterJet gives you a middle option. We connect travellers who want more than economy with private aircraft that are already flying empty.
What's an empty leg?
Every week, charter operators reposition aircraft around New Zealand; returning to base, moving to the next booking. These flights take off whether they carry passengers or not. They're called empty legs.
Because the flight is already committed, operators can offer seats at a discounted price of the full charter price. You get a genuine private aviation experience, but without chartering the entire aircraft.
Booking should be simple
Most empty legs never get advertised. We work directly with charter operators to bring those flights together in one place. From there, we built BetterJet to remove the friction. No quote requests. No back-and-forth. No waiting three days for a price.
Browse available flights. See real pricing upfront. Place a small deposit to secure the flight. We handle everything from there: confirming availability with the operator, the paperwork, and getting you on board. Most bookings are wrapped up quickly. If a flight isn't confirmed, your deposit comes straight back.
The price you see is the price you pay
Every flight is listed with clear pricing — no hidden fees, no surprise surcharges. It's not “cheap private flying.” It's the next step up when economy won't do and a full charter doesn't make sense.
The trade-off is flexibility
Empty legs fly on the operator's schedule, not yours. Routes and timing are set by the charter that created them — which means they can occasionally change or be cancelled at short notice if the underlying booking is modified.
That's the trade-off for the price. For travellers who can match their plans to what's available, the value is extraordinary. We'll always let you know as early as possible if anything changes, and if a flight doesn't go ahead, your deposit is refunded in full.
Fewer empty planes in the sky
A repositioning flight takes off whether it carries passengers or not. By helping fill those legs, we're making better use of flights that are already happening — better for operators, better for travellers, and a little better for the environment too.
More than economy. Less than a charter. Exactly what's been missing.